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Sunday, May 29, 2016

Rev. Samuel Blair (1712-1751) was my six times great grandfather. He was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Philadelphia in 1730. Eventually, he became the minister at Faggs Manor, where he began a college for the classical and theological studies for pastoral training. One of his students, Samuel Davies, considered the Apostle of Virginia, thought Blair the finest preacher on two continents -- "none was better than he at the exposition of God's word."

Rev. Blair took as his wife and helpmate, the granddaughter of an early New Amsterdam settler, Francijnke "Frances" Van Hook. Their first son, Joseph Blair, died at the age of 13. Their second son, also named Samuel Blair followed his father into the ministry. He was considered by many to be the "most accomplished and promising young minister in the Presbyterian church" and known as Dr. Blair.

Rev. Samuel Blair, Jr.; courtesy Wikipedia

Rev. Samuel Blair, Jr., attended the College of New Jersey (now Princeton,) and graduated with honor at 19 years of age. He remained in Princeton where he tutored for several years before being licensed to preach by the Presbytery of New Castle.

He was called to Old South Church in Boston in 1764. On the journey north, he was shipwrecked. Though, he survived, he lost all his clothes and sermon manuscripts and suffered health problems as a result. He remained one of two pastors at Old South Church for two years until ill-health forced him to resign.

Old South Church, circa 1835; courtesy of Wikipedia

He moved to Germantown (now part of Philadelphia), Pennsylvania, planning to devote the rest of his years to study and married Susan Shippen in 1767. She was a descendant of Edward Shippen, considered the first mayor of Philadelphia under William Penn's 1701 charter.

But Rev. Blair's active, public life was not yet completed. During the Revolutionary War, he served as a chaplain to a brigade of artillery. From 1790 through 1792, he was the chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives, the second minister to ever serve in that capacity. Rev. Blair died on 23 September 1818 and was interred at Ivy Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia.

Rev. Samuel Blair, Jr.'s older sister, Mary Blair was my five times great grandmother. She married another Presbyterian minister, Rev. David Rice, who became known as the Apostle of Kentucky._______________[1]Sprague's American Presbyterian Pulpit, The Log College, by A. AlexanderApostle of Kentucky

Friday, May 27, 2016

During the Battle for Okinawa, U.S. Marine Corps PFC Jay Welba Whitaker, Jr., was injured and died from his wounds. He was 19 years old.

Jay enlisted in the Marine Corps sometime before October 1943 because he reported to the Marine Corps Base Recruit Depot in San Diego on 1 October and was assigned to the 9th Recruit Battalion, Training Regiment. His basic training and specialty schools likely lasted until the end of the year.

He was sent overseas to the Pacific theater about 1 January 1944 and assigned to the 35th Replacement Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, in advance of his permanent assignment. By April 1944 he had been assigned to to Co. M, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, but by September 1944, he had been transferred to Co. K where he remained until he died. The 1st Marine Division is the oldest active duty division in the Marine Corps today.

When Jay joined the 1st Marine Division they were heavily involved in the long-running Eastern New Guinea campaign, which lasted from January 1942 until August 1945, and the Battle of New Britain, which lasted from December 1943 until August 1945.

1st Marine Division during the Battle of New Britain; courtesy of Wikipedia

The division fought on New Britain until February 1944 at places named Suicide Creek and Ajar Ridge. Following the battle, they were sent to Pavuvu and Russell Islands for rest and refitting.

The next battle for the division was Peleiu, they landed on 15 September 1944. Their commanding general predicted the fighting would be "...tough but short. It'll be over in 3 or 4 days..." The actual fighting was certainly tough. In the first week alone the division lost 3,946 casualties. It wasn't short either, lasting some three months. 1st Marine Division fought on the island for one month before being relieved. It was some of the bloodiest fighting of the war and the division lost 6,526 casualties before pulling out to rest and refit.

First wave of landing craft approaching Peleiu at the onset of the battle; courtesy
of Wikipedia

The final campaign for the division was Okinawa. If Jay would have survived it, he would have returned home after the war, but it was not to be. He was one of the 14,009 battle deaths, succumbing to his wounds while the battle was still raging.

Alabama, WWII Military Dead and Wounded, 1944-1946; courtesy of
Ancestry.com

The battle for Okinawa lasted from 1 April through 22 June 1945 -- 82 long days. The battle has been referred to as "typhoon of steel" by the Americans and "rain of steel by the Japanese. There were intense kamikaze attacks and the sheer number of Allied ships and armored vehicles was mind boggling. The severity of the fighting on an island so close to the Japanese home islands was one of the factors President Truman considered when he gave the okay to drop atomic bombs.

Jay Welba Whitaker, Jr.'s body was returned home and was interred at Forest Hill Cemetery in Birmingham, Alabama. His name is engraved on the Alabama Hall of Honor at the Alabama Veterans Memorial Park._______________My connection to Jay Welba Whitaker, Jr., is convoluted but I thought it was important to tell his story. He was born on 25 November 1925 in Alabama to Jay Welba Whitaker, Sr., and Lorraine Marion Jones. His parents divorced before he was five years old and his mother married Daniel Stuart Carter in 1933 in Bay County, Florida. His first wife, Bessie Bane Beasley, was my 3rd cousin once removed.

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

After nearly 30 years of researching my father-in-law's WWII military service, which began on 7 April 1941 and ended on 18 June 1945, I now know where he was on almost every day of that time. My husband and I have taken many terrific trips visiting those places and learning more about where he served. So it's no surprise I like to write about the war experiences of my ancestors. To skirmishes with Native Americans prior to the Revolutionary War right through the Global War on Terrorism. However, I write most frequently about my Civil War, World War I and World War II veteran ancestors' experiences. Today, I'd like to share with you what I've learned about researching U.S. Army World War II veteran ancestor -- one of the millions of citizen soldiers Tom Brokaw called the "Greatest Generation."

My seven tips are:

1. Order his military service record2. Learn about the specific unit in which he served3. Understand the role he played in his unit4. Record the awards and decorations he earned

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

I had considered my three times great grandfather Alfred Riggin a space alien for some time. He dropped into Madison County, Illinois, in 1836 when he bought land, then pulled a disappearing act after the 1850 census was enumerated. The scant records about him indicated he was born in Tennessee about 1811 and that he married Sarah "Sally" Piper in Madison County.

I had one DNA match to a living descendant, and after communicating we both confirmed through records we had collected our shared common ancestor was Alfred, the space alien. I had four other matches that included the Riggin surname in their pedigree charts.

One DNA match particularly excited me as it was a descendant of a Teague Riggin, who came to the American colonies in the 1640s after he was exiled from Ireland by Oliver Cromwell. He married the boss' daughter and died a rich plantation owner in Somerset County, Maryland, in 1707. One of his descendants became a circuit-riding minister and settled in Sevier County, Tennessee. Three of his sons made their way to Madison County, Illinois -- one even founded the town of Troy where my space alien lived and another lost a state legislative election to Abraham Lincoln. Alfred must be the reverend's son. How many Riggin men would travel from Tennessee to one county in Illinois about the time the territory became a state and not be related? The exiting part for me was 1640 would be the furthest back in time for any direct ancestor in my tree. I even blogged about old Teague Riggin several times.

From the Centennial History of Madison County, Illinois; image
courtesy of Internet Archive

I would poke at the problem from time to time looking for definitive proof. I finally read about a reference to a book about the Riggin surname that was supposedly housed in the Los Angeles County, California public library. Unfortunately, they no longer had a copy. I did find it, however, on the FamilySearch.org website.

Harry Riggin, co-founder of Troy, Illinois, copyrighted image
purchased by my from Historic MapWorks for
non-commercial use in publications. It may not be reused
by others

The good reverend, who settled in Tennessee, had a son, who wrote a short biography about his father. It was included in the book! He had four sons, all were named...and none were named Alfred. This caused me to go back and review everything I had collected about the Riggin family. And staring out from my family tree was the proof that Alfred came from a different Riggin line. Since Rev. Riggin's son, John, married Elizabeth Reid, this had to be another John. And I knew Alfred's mother was Margaret Farris. I'd had that "proof" for several years! Argh!

Snippet from the Centennial History of Madison County, Illinois (John
Riggin and Margaret Farris are Alfred Riggin's parents); image courtesy
of Internet Archive

Monday, May 23, 2016

The Town of Hyde Park, New York, is in Dutchess County, just north of the county seat of Poughkeepsie. It is most famous for being the hometown of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the location of his summer residence, Springwood.

Springwood, Hyde Park, New York; courtesy of TripAdvisor.com

The town hall is located at 4383 Albany Post Road and on its grounds is a small park with several honor roll memorials.

Three of the four Hyde Park Honor Roll memorials; personal collection

World War I

Township of Hyde Park World War I Honor Roll;
personal collection

Honor Roll

The following men from the
Township of Hyde Park
Have answered the call of their country, serving in the military
or naval forces in the War declared by Congress on April 6, 1917

South of Albany, New York, are the hill towns of southern Albany County. They include Berne, East Berne, Gallupville, Knox, and West Berne. It is beautiful rolling mountain country which includes many well maintained farms. Over 20 of the farm owners have painted what are called barn quilts on their barns or outbuildings. We downloaded a self-paced driving tour map and had a wonderful afternoon discovering this area of Albany county that seems a world away from the hustle and bustle of the state capital.

A "barn quilt" of the Dutch Puzzle design on a barn near Berne, New York;
personal collection

As we drove through the outskirts of Berne on Helderberg Trail (State Route 443), we passed the town park, which included a World War II Honor Roll.

Sunday, May 22, 2016

The City of Kingston, New York, is the county seat of Ulster County and slightly more than 100 miles north of New York City up the Hudson River. Soon after the British colonies declared independence, Kingston became the first capitol city of the Empire State.

First New York Senate House, Kingston, New York; personal collection

The British were not amused and burned the town a month later.

City Hall was built in 1873 on the top of a hill between the former villages of Kingston and Rondout, which are now both part of the city. On the steep front lawn are several memorials honoring the service of military men and women.

Kingston City Hall; courtesy of Wikipedia

However, only one memorial marker includes the name of an individual service man. He lost his life on 7 December 1941, a day President Franklin D. Roosevelt said "will live in infamy."

Otis, Massachusetts, is a town in Berkshire, the westernmost county in the commonwealth. In front of the library and museum building is the Otis World Ward II Honor Roll Memorial.

World War II Honor Roll in the Town of Otis, Massachusetts, personal
collection

Dedicated to those
Men and women living or dead
who have served and are
serving in any branch of the
armed forces of the United
States of America from the
Town of Otis. A sincere thanks
to all those for keeping
our country and others free.

In honor of
the men and women of
OTIS
who served their country
in World War II

Lee, Massachusetts, is a town in Berkshire County. During the Shays' Rebellion in 1786 about 250 followers of Daniel Shays encountered state troops near Lee. The Shays partisans paraded a fake cannon and the troops fled. But the town is better known for its marble, which was first quarried in 1852. Marble from Lee was used in St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City and the Capitol building in Washington, District of Columbia.

James Burt Veterans Memorial Park on Main Street near Academy Street. The park was named for Captain James M. Burt, U.S. Army Medal of Honor recipient and includes an honor roll memorial for World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War and Persian Gulf War.

James Burt Veterans Memorial Park Honor Roll; personal collection

James Burt Veterans Memorial Park
In Memory of Those from Lee Who Died During War
For Their Country

Pittsfield is the county seat of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, the westernmost county in the commonwealth and it is a short but scenic 45-minute drive from the outskirts of Albany, New York, where my husband works two weeks out of every month.

In the center of town is the Memorial Park at the intersection of South, North, East and West Streets. At each end of the park is a memorial.

For the dead
A tribute.
For the living
a memory.
For prosterity
an emblem
of loyalty to the flag
of their country.

The rear, or east, facade includes the following inscription:

With grateful recognition
Of the services of all her
Sons
Who upheld the honor and
Integrity of our beloved
Country
The town of
Pittsfield
Erects this monument in
Loving Memory of those
Who died that the
Nation
Might live

The north and south facades include the names of Civil War soldiers from Pittsfield, who died during that war:

Names have been alphabetized by surname within the regiment headings.This post was written as a contribution to the Honor Roll Project, which was created by Heather Wilkinson Rojo, author of Nutfield Genealogy.

Friday, May 20, 2016

As my husband and I were driving through Sharpsburg, Maryland, on a beautiful, 70+-degree day in December on our way to the Antietam National Cemetery, I spotted a memorial monument in front of the town hall.

Patriot Memorial in Sharpsburg, Maryland; personal collection

Erected by
Citizens of
Sharpsburg Dist.
In recognition of the
Patriotism shown by
All, who answered our
Country's call in the
World War
1917 -- 1919

Thanks to Brandi Proffitt, who I met virtually in the Sevier County Tennessee Genealogy Active Sharing Facebook group, I am able to share her photograph of a Revolutionary War plaque presented by the Westmoreland Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and transcribe their names for the Honor Roll project.

Wayne County, West Virginia, Revolutionary War Soldiers plaque; courtesy
of Brandi Proffitt

Thursday, May 19, 2016

New Bern, North Carolina, located at the confluence of the Neuse and Trent rivers, was first settled by Swiss and German Palatine immigrants in 1710. It later became the first permanent seat of colonial government in North Carolina. Tyron Palace, the British royal governor's mansion was completed in 1770. After the Revolutionary War, New Bern was named the state capital. In the 1800s, it was the largest city in the state, developed on the trade of goods and slaves.

Tryon Palace; courtesy of Tryon Palace

New Bern is now the county seat for Craven County. The court house is located at 302 Broad Street. On the grounds of the courthouse are several monuments, including two honor rolls.

In 1978 my parents and two younger brothers moved from northern Virginia to Pamlico County, North Carolina, beginning my love affair with the eastern part of the state and the Inner Banks area in particular. It is an area rich in history with wide open Carolina blue skies and lots of broad expansive bodies of water.

The county seat of Pamlico is Bayboro and the courthouse is located there. In front of the courthouse is the Pamlico County Honor Roll monument. I have driven by that courthouse countless times and even met with county officials there, but until my brother told me the monument existed I never knew it was there!

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

The Mecklenburg County, Virginia, Veterans Memorial is located in Clarksville, Virginia, which is located on Buggs Island Lake, a 50,000-acre man-made lake which built to bring electricity to the area and control flooding along the Roanoke River. Clarksville was incorporated in 1818. Settlers flocked to the area as the soil was so good for growing tobacco. By 1832 it was recognized as one of the fastest growing towns in Virginia. The Clarksville Tobacco Market was considered so important to the commonwealth's economy, the Roanoke Navigation Company was formed to transport tobacco to Petersburg. Now the town is known for its historic district, which includes many 18th, 19th and early 20th century buildings and for recreational opportunities on the lake and nearby Occoneechee State Park.

Clarksville, Virginia, Veterans Memorial Park; personal collection

Center of the memorial wall; photograph
courtesy of Lake Country Online

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